The Oldest Ferry Still Running In America

The Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry has carried passengers across the Connecticut River since 1655, more than a century before the United States declared independence. Recognized as the nation’s oldest continuously operating public ferry service, it links Rocky Hill and Glastonbury along Connecticut Route 160. The four-minute crossing now serves about 400 vehicles on an average day.

What Makes the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry the Oldest?

Over more than 370 years, the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry has survived wars, floods, technological changes, and repeated changes in the vessels that make the crossing. It closes during the winter and has experienced temporary interruptions because of flooding, mechanical problems, and other events. None of the original equipment survives, but the service continues.

Other definitions produce other contenders. The Norfolk-Portsmouth ferry in Virginia traces its history to 1636, 19 years before Rocky Hill-Glastonbury. However, Norfolk's own historical chronology states that the ferry was discontinued in 1955 after the opening of the Norfolk-Portsmouth tunnel. Passenger ferry service returned in 1983. Another historic service operates between Halifax and Dartmouth in Nova Scotia. Dating to 1752, Halifax Transit describes it as the longest continuously operating saltwater ferry system in North America. It therefore holds an important separate distinction, but it is in Canada and began nearly a century after the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury crossing.

370 Years Of Crossing the Connecticut River

The ferry dates to 1655, when both sides of the present crossing belonged to Wethersfield. Glastonbury became a separate town in 1693, while Rocky Hill remained part of Wethersfield until its incorporation in 1843. Rocky Hill's lower community later became known as Stepney Parish. National Register documentation indicates that Wethersfield established roads on both sides of the river and a public landing at Rocky Hill soon after 1649. Joseph Smith or Richard Smith were among the first ferrymen, and the ferry privilege remained within their extended family. In 1724, the Connecticut General Assembly formally granted the ferry right to Jonathan Smith, Joseph's son, and established tolls that included four pence for each man, horse, and load.

For generations, the crossing relied on simple technology. Rafts and boats were moved by oars, sweeps, poles, or sails depending on river conditions. Flooding sometimes forced ferrymen to use alternate landings or move their craft across inundated meadows. In 1846, a horse-powered treadmill was installed on a flatboat, allowing animal power to move heavier loads across the river.

Transitioning to Steam

The Connecticut Valley Railroad reached Rocky Hill Landing in 1871, making the ferry more valuable as a connection between the railroad and communities east of the river. Glastonbury mill owners could move woolen goods, feldspar, and other products across the Connecticut River for shipment by rail.

The transition to steam began during this period. In 1866, Rocky Hill and Glastonbury paid ferryman Lyman Williams a $1,000 bonus to put a steam ferryboat into operation. When his lease was renewed in 1876, Williams and Martin F. Hollister operated a new steam ferryboat called the Centennial. It remained in service until 1888. The steam-powered Nayaug later served the route from 1903 to 1921. Rocky Hill and Glastonbury jointly operated the ferry until the state took it over in 1915.

Riding the Ferry Today

In 2026, the ferry is operated by the Connecticut Department of Transportation and forms part of Route 160 between Rocky Hill and South Glastonbury. Today's crossing uses the Hollister III, a three-car steel barge, alongside the diesel-powered towboat Cumberland. Both were placed in service in 1955, meaning the vessels themselves are much younger than the ferry service they represent. The ferry crossing and its landings are part of the Glastonbury-Rocky Hill Ferry Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 21, 2005.

The regular operating season runs from April 1 through November 30. Weekday hours are 7:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m., while weekend service runs from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The ferry is closed on Thanksgiving and runs on demand rather than according to fixed departure times. Actual opening dates can vary with river conditions: in 2026, high water delayed the beginning of Rocky Hill-Glastonbury service until May 1. The crossing remains a shortcut for drivers between parts of Rocky Hill and southern Glastonbury. CTDOT has estimated that motorists can save nearly eight miles by using the ferry. The ferry landings also received upgrades during the 2025-2026 offseason. CTDOT began a $533,335 project in November 2025 that included fencing, sidewalk work, lighting, and other pedestrian-access improvements.

A Closer Look At The Other Contenders

As mentioned above, the claims of the 'oldest ferry' or 'oldest ferry service' depend on how the service is defined. The Halifax-Dartmouth Ferry, which runs across Halifax Harbor in Nova Scotia, Canada, is often cited as the oldest continuously operating saltwater ferry service in North America. But if the conversation returns to length of service, the Rocky Hill Ferry predates the Halifax ferry by 97 years.

The Norfolk-Portsmouth Ferry service in Virginia dates back to 1636, when Adam Thoroughgood arranged for regular rowboat transport across the Elizabeth River. If this article evaluated entries strictly by the earliest date of the advent of a water service, the Virginia ferry predates Rocky Hill by 19 years. At the same time, the ferry service experienced long periods of suspended operations during wars and conflicts. Thus, the Rocky Hill ferry holds the undisputed record for unbroken, continuous service.

Preserving America's Oldest Ferry

The Rocky Hill ferry may have survived several obstacles up until today, but it was not without challenge. During the late 20th and early 21st centuries, there have been more than one proposal to defund the service or replace it with highway bridge corridors. Fortunately, the local community stood together on each occasion to restore funding and keep the service alive. Its inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places also formally recognizes the historical importance of the ferry crossing and the landscape around it. More recently, CTDOT's investment in the 2025-2026 landing improvements indicates that the state continues to maintain the crossing.

In 2026, 371 years after its traditional 1655 starting date, the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry remains an operating part of Connecticut's transportation system. Its present barge and tugboat are products of the 20th century, and its schedule includes seasonal and occasional temporary closures, but the ferry service itself has endured through centuries of changing technology and transportation.